How America responds to a chemical attack on US soil

Chemical agent attacks have long been a part of a military's arsenal. During ancient times, while the Persians were under siege by the Romans, they pumped toxic gases made from sulphur crystals and bitumen into tunnels that the Romans were digging.

Centuries later, we've found more innovative methods to wreak havoc with agents that are naked to the human eye.

It is estimated by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention that the normal response time for a chemical attack is 12 hours— far too long for an emergency of this scope.

In addition to this deficiency, hospitals actually carry a limited amount of supplies for nerve agent exposures.

Even if a hospital was lucky enough to have an ample supply, their varied shelf lives make them unsustainable resource due to their costly nature.

Women, affected by what activists say was a gas attack, receive treatment inside a makeshift hospital in Kfar Zeita village in the central province of Hama on May 22, 2014. Badi Khlif/Reuters

To address these insufficiencies, a streamlined logistical system has been implemented by the CDC — their antidote of choice?

General view of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters in Atlanta. Thomson Reuters

In densely populated areas like New York, officials have created mobile Chempack units, where a designated driver can leave their location within three minutes, resulting is a faster response time.

With US National Intelligence Director James Clapper stating that terrorist organizations, such as ISIS, were already planning on using chemical weapons towards the US, the CDC's Chempacks may prove to be a public necessity.